Arm system for logging a wellbore and method for using same

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for logging a wellbore with an arm system is provided. The arm system has a pad for measuring a downhole parameter and a first arm having an arm first end connected to a tool body of the downhole tool and an arm second end connected to the pad. The arm system has a second arm having an arm first end connected to the tool body of the downhole tool and an arm second end connected to the pad. The arm system has a sliding shuffle adapted to allow a portion of the arm system to translate relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool body and a first biasing member wherein the first biasing member and the sliding shuffle are for moving the pad between a closed position proximate the tool body and an engaged position proximate the wellbore wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant has filed co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/871,656 entitled AN ANTILOCK DEVICE FOR USE WITH AN ARM SYSTEM FORLOGGING A WELLBORE AND METHOD FOR USING SAME contemporaneously herewith,and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/871,601 entitled AN INTERLEAVEDARM SYSTEM FOR LOGGING A WELLBORE AND METHOD FOR USING SAMEcontemporaneously herewith. The entire contents of each are hereinincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to techniques for performing wellboreoperations. More particularly, the present invention relates to downholetools, such as wireline logging, production, drilling, coiled-tubingand/or, other tools having arms (or extensions) for positioning a sensorpad proximate a wellbore wall to measure downhole parameters.

BACKGROUND

For oilfield and hydrocarbon exploration, a downhole drilling tool witha bit at an end thereof is advanced into the ground to form a wellbore.As the drilling tool is advanced, a drilling mud is pumped through thedrilling tool and out the drill bit to cool the drilling tool and carryaway cuttings. The drilling mud exits the drill bit and flows back up tothe surface for recirculation through the tool. The drilling mud mayalso be used to form a mud cake to line the wellbore.

During and after the drilling operation, it is particularly useful toperform various downhole evaluations, such as testing, sampling, and/orscanning a subsurface geological formation to provide data representingthe various strata and hydrocarbons that constitute the subsurfaceformation (referred to collectively herein as “logging”). In some cases,the drilling tool may be provided with devices to log the surroundingformation. In some cases, the drilling tool may be removed and awireline logging tool may be deployed into the wellbore to log theformation. Logging may also be performed during other wellboreoperations, such as treatment, production, etc.

The wellbore formed by the drilling tool is typically non-uniform andmay contain obstructions, bumps or other non-uniformities in the wall ofthe wellbore. These non-uniformities (as well as other conditions in thewellbore) may cause damage to the downhole tool and/or its components.

Attempts have been made to provide downhole tools with devices thatretract during transport through the wellbore and expand for contactwith the wellbore wall. Some techniques involve downhole tools withextendable arms as described, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,614,250,4,926,937, 4,979,585, 5,092,056, 6,702,010, 5,022,484, 7,069,775,7,131,210. Various downhole tools with sensors positioned on extendablearms have been developed, such as the FSI™, NCMI™, and HDT™ tools,commercially available from SCHLUMBERGER™; the OMRI™ and EMI™ tools,commercially available from HALLIBURTON™; the STAR™ and EARTHIMAGER™,commercially available from BAKER HUGHES™ INC.; and the MICROIMAGER™,commercially available from WEATHERFORD™ INTL. Some attempts involve theuse of logging tools for logging as they are passed through thewellbore, sometimes referred to as “log-down kits.”

Despite the development of techniques involving downhole tools withextendable arms, there remains a need to provide advanced techniques foreffectively positioning sensors against the wellbore wall; and inparticular, sensors used to provide an image of the formation'sproperties to a user/operator at the surface. It may be desirable toprovide techniques that enable logging as the downhole tool passesthrough the wellbore. It may be further desirable to provide techniquesto enhance contact with the wellbore wall. Preferably, such techniquesinvolve one or more of the following, among others: bi-directionallogging of the wellbore, increased contact of the pad with the wellborewall, increased coverage of the wellbore wall, verification of thepreviously logged areas, enhanced (e.g., uniform) engagement with thewellbore wall, and/or resistance to sticking in the wellbore.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, one or moreembodiments relate to an arm system for logging a wellbore. The wellborehas a wellbore wall and at least one subterranean formation thereabout.The arm system may be positionable on a downhole tool deployable intothe wellbore. The arm system has a pad for measuring at least onedownhole parameter. The arm system has a first arm having an arm firstend connected to a tool body of the downhole tool and an arm second endconnected to a first end of the pad and a second arm having an arm firstend connected to the tool body of the downhole tool and an arm secondend connected to a second end of the pad. The arm system has a slidingshuffle adapted to allow a portion of the arm system to translaterelative to a longitudinal axis of the tool body and a first biasingmember wherein the first biasing member and the sliding shuffle are formoving the pad between a closed position proximate the tool body and anengaged position proximate the wellbore wall.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, one or moreembodiments relate to a method for logging a wellbore. The wellbore hasa wellbore wall and at least one subterranean formation thereabout. Themethod comprises deploying a downhole tool into the wellbore, whereinthe downhole tool has at least one arm system thereon. The methodfurther comprises maintaining the pad in the engaged position byself-adjusting the pad between a closed position proximate the tool bodyand an engaged position proximate the wellbore wall as the pad movesthrough the wellbore. In addition, the method comprises measuring atleast one downhole parameter with the pad. Each of the at least one armsystems of the downhole tool has a pad for measuring at least onedownhole parameter. The arm system has a first arm having an arm firstend connected to a tool body of the downhole tool and an arm second endconnected to a first end of the pad and a second arm having an arm firstend connected to the tool body of the downhole tool and an arm secondend connected to a second end of the pad. The arm system may have asliding shuffle adapted to allow a portion of the arm system totranslate relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool body and a firstbiasing member wherein the first biasing member and the sliding shuffleare for moving the pad between a closed position proximate the tool bodyand an engaged position proximate the wellbore wall.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, one or moreembodiments relate to a system for logging a wellbore. The wellbore hasa wellbore wall and at least one subterranean formation thereabout. Thesystem has a downhole tool positionable in the wellbore and at least onearm set extendable from the downhole tool. Each of the at least one armsets has at least one arm system. Each arm system has a pad formeasuring at least one downhole parameter. Each arm system has a firstarm having an arm first end connected to a tool body of the downholetool and an arm second end connected to a first end of the pad and asecond arm having an arm first end connected to the tool body of thedownhole tool and an arm second end connected to a second end of thepad. Each arm system has a sliding shuffle adapted to allow a portion ofthe arm system to translate relative to a longitudinal axis of the toolbody and a first biasing member wherein the first biasing member and thesliding shuffle are for moving the pad between a closed positionproximate the tool body and an engaged position proximate the wellborewall.

These together with other aspects, features, and advantages of thepresent disclosure, along with the various features of novelty, whichcharacterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. The aboveaspects and advantages are neither exhaustive nor individually orjointly critical to the spirit or practice of the disclosure. Otheraspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription in combination with the accompanying drawings. Accordingly,the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative innature, and not restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the disclosure may be better understood whenconsideration is given to the following detailed description thereof.Such description makes reference to the annexed pictorial illustrations,schematics, graphs, drawings, and appendices. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of a system for logging a wellborehaving an arm system on a downhole tool constructed in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure for locating a pad proximate awellbore wall;

FIG. 2A depicts a schematic view of the downhole tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B depicts a schematic view of an arm system constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2C depicts a schematic view of an alternative arm systemconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of the downhole tool of FIG. 2Aalong line A-A;

FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the downhole tool of FIG. 3against an upset in the wellbore;

FIG. 5 depicts a schematic bottom view of a swivel bearing of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 depicts a schematic bottom view of an alternate swivel bearingconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A depicts a schematic perspective view of the swivel bearing ofFIG. 5;

FIGS. 7B-D depict schematic views of an alternate swivel bearingconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic side view of a portion of the arm system ofFIG. 3 having a biasing member connection on an arm;

FIG. 9 depicts a schematic view of a portion of the arm system of FIG. 3having the biasing member connection on a pad;

FIG. 10 depicts a schematic view of an alternate biasing memberconnection;

FIG. 11 depicts a schematic view of a portion of the arm system of FIG.3 having a swivel type biasing member connection on the pad;

FIG. 12 depicts a schematic view of a portion of the downhole tool ofFIG. 3, and a force diagram illustrating the operation of one of the armsystems;

FIG. 13 depicts a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the downholetool of FIG. 3 having a pad sliding linkage;

FIG. 14 depicts a schematic end view of the downhole tool constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 depicts a kinematic diagram of the downhole tool constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure herein, illustrating theoperation of one of the arms having an anti-locking device;

FIGS. 16A and 16B depict partial cross-sectional side views of theswivel bearing of FIG. 15 with the anti-locking device moving between areleased and an engaged position;

FIGS. 17A and 17B depict a schematic side view of the arm systems ofFIG. 15 with the anti-locking device moving between the releasedposition and the engaged position;

FIG. 18 depicts a schematic force diagram of the anti-locking deviceoperation on one of the arm systems of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 depicts a schematic perspective view of the anti-locking deviceof FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 depicts a schematic view of the downhole tool in the wellbore ofFIG. 1 having a plurality of interleaving arm sets;

FIG. 21 depicts an alternate schematic view of the downhole tool of FIG.20;

FIG. 22 depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the downhole tool ofFIG. 21 cut along line B-B;

FIG. 23 depicts a schematic perspective view of a portion of thedownhole tool of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 24 depicts a method for logging the wellbore.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure are shown in theabove-identified figures and described in detail below. In describingthe preferred embodiments, like or identical reference numerals are usedto identify common or similar elements. The figures are not necessarilyto scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may beshown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarityand conciseness.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of a wellsite 100 having an oil rig 102with a downhole tool 104 suspended into a wellbore 106 therebelow. Thewellbore 106 has been drilled by a drilling tool (not shown) through oneor more formations 107. A drilling mud, and/or a wellbore fluid, mayhave been pumped into the wellbore 106 and may line a wall thereof. Acasing 111 may also be positioned in a portion of the wellbore 106 andcemented into place therein.

The downhole tool 104 may include one or more sensors, sensor pads, orpads 108, for determining one or more downhole parameters, such asformation parameters and/or wellbore fluid parameters (e.g.,temperature, pressure, viscosity, resistivity/microresistivity,composition, etc.).

The downhole tool 104 may have one or more arm systems 110 configured tolocate the pad 108 proximate a wellbore wall 112. The arm system 110 ofthe downhole tool 104 permits the pad 108 to expand and contract in aradial plane to accommodate changes in wellbore diameter as the downholetool 104 travels into and/or out of the wellbore 106, as will bediscussed in more detail below. The arm system 110 may have one or moreactuators 116 and/or one or more biasing members 118, or resilientmembers, for moving the pads 108 while the downhole tool 104 travelswithin the wellbore 106.

The downhole tool 104 is shown as a wireline logging tool, lowered intothe wellbore 106 to take various measurements. Although the downholetool 104 is shown as being conveyed into the wellbore 106 on a wireline122, it should be appreciated that any suitable conveyance may be used,such as a slickline, coiled tubing, a drill string, a casing string,self-conveyed (e.g., a tractor), and the like. The downhole tool 104 maybe operatively connected to a surface unit 114 for communicationtherebetween. The downhole tool 104 may be wired via the wireline 122,as shown, and/or wirelessly linked via the one or more telemetry devices(not shown). The one or more telemetry devices may include any telemetrydevices, such as electromagnetic, acoustic, mud pulse and the like, forpassing signals to the surface unit 114, as indicated, by acommunication link 124. Further, it should be appreciated that anycommunication device or system may be used to communicate between thedownhole tool 104 and the surface unit 114. Signals may be passedbetween the downhole tool 104 and the surface unit 114 and/or otherlocations for communication therebetween.

The pad 108 may be any conventional sensor pad for determining downholeparameters. Although not shown in detail, the pads 108 may include aplurality of electrodes for measuring the downhole parameters. Suchelectrodes may include at least one button electrode and at least onesource or return electrode and at least one guard electrode to enablemicro-electrical imaging of an area near the wellbore 106. The pad 108may communicate with the surface unit 114 and/or the wireline 122 viathe one or more communication links 124. The communication links 124between the pad 108 and the wireline 122 may be hardwired within the armsystem 110 and/or the downhole tool 104. Further, the communicationlinks 124 from the pad 108 may be wireless connections to the wireline122, the surface unit 114 and/or the downhole tool 104. It should beappreciated however, that the downhole tool 104 may comprise an internalmemory for recording the measured downhole parameters.

FIG. 2A depicts a schematic view of the downhole tool 104 having the armsystem 110 for locating the pad 108 proximate the wellbore wall 112.Each of the arm systems 110 may have one or more biasing members 118,one or more actuators 116, an upper/first arm 200, a lower/second arm202, a sliding shuffle 204, and one or more swivel bearings 206.

As shown and described in more detail hereinafter, the downhole tool 104has the plurality of arm systems 110 that form an arm set 210. It shouldbe appreciated that the arm set 210 may have any number of the armsystems 110 for determining downhole parameters. Further, there may bemultiple arm sets 210 located along the downhole tool 104.

The arm systems 110 preferably allow the downhole tool 104 to move thepad 108 with a radial displacement 130, an axial tilt 132 and atangential tilt 134 during logging in order to maintain contact with thewellbore wall 112 and allow the pad 108 to self-adjust with respect toundulations of the wellbore wall 112. More specifically, the radialdisplacement 130 allows the pad 108 to move radially toward and awayfrom a central (or longitudinal) axis 212 of the downhole tool 104;wherein, the axial tilt 132 allows the pad 108 to move at an anglerelative to the central axis 212 of the downhole tool 104. Further, thetangential tilt 134 allows the pad 108 to rotate about a pad centralaxis 213. The swivel bearings 206 may allow the pad 108 and the arm200/202 to pivot relative to one another, in addition to allowing thepad 108 to rotate about the pad central axis 213, while any portion ofthe pad 108 moves toward and away from a tool body 220.

The arm system 110 is shown as having two arms: the upper arm 200 andthe lower arm 202. The upper/first arm 200 and the lower/second arm 202may have a fixed length defined between an arm tool end (or arm firstend) 216 and an arm pad end (or arm second end) 214. The arm pad end 214of each of the arms 200 and 202 may couple to the pad 108 via the swivelbearings 206. As depicted in FIG. 2A, the arm tool end 216 of thelower/second arm 202 is shown to couple to the sliding shuffle 204 witha pivot connection 219, while the arm tool end 216 of the upper/firstarm 200 is shown to couple to the tool body 220 also with a pivotconnection 219. The pivot connection 219 between the lower arm 202 andthe sliding shuffle 204, and/or between the upper arm 200 and the toolbody 220, may be any suitable connection that allows the arm 200/202 topivot at an angle relative to the central axis 212 of the downhole tool104, such as a pin connection, and the like. An arm actuation portion208 may be provided at/near the arm tool end 216 of the upper arm 200 toactuate the arm system 110 between a closed position and an engagedposition. Although, the upper arm 200 is shown in FIG. 2A as coupling tothe arm actuation portion 208 and the lower arm 202 is shown coupling tothe sliding shuffle 204, the upper arm 200 may couple to the slidingshuffle 204 and lower arm 202 may couple to the arm actuation portion208. Further, both the upper/first arm 200 and the lower/second arm 202may couple to separate sliding shuffles 204, as shown in FIG. 2B, oralternatively, to separate arm actuation portions 208 (not shown).

Referring in particular to FIG. 2B, the sliding shuffle 204 may be anydevice configured to move an end of at least one of the arms 200/202 ina direction that is substantially parallel to the central (orlongitudinal) axis 212 of the downhole tool 104. The sliding shuffle 204may be configured to move substantially parallel to the central axis 212in a slot 218 formed in the tool body 220 of the downhole tool 104. Theslot 218 may take any form so long as the sliding shuffle 204 isconfigured to move with an end of one of the arms 200/202 in the slot218. The sliding shuffle 204 may allow the arm 200/202 and therefore,the pad 108 to move in response to the pad 108 and/or the arm system110, engaging upsets in the wellbore wall 112, as will be discussed inmore detail below.

FIG. 2C depicts the arm system 110 showing both the first arm 200 andthe second arm 202 as coupling to the pivot connection 219 and nothaving the sliding shuffle 204 attached directly to the tool body 220.In this embodiment, the swivel bearing 206 may form an alternate versionof the sliding shuffle 204, which may be referred to herein as a slidingswivel bearing, having a slide 250 between the pad 108 and a portion ofthe swivel bearing 206. The slide 250 may allow at least a portion ofone of the arms 200/202 to longitudinally translate along arrow 252,relative to the pad 108 during operation.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show partial cross-sectional views of the downhole tool104 of FIG. 2A taken along line A-A, but in different positions inwellbore 106. As shown in these figures, the sliding shuffle 204 has arectangular prism shape configured to move in the slot 218, although thesliding shuffle 204 may have any suitable shape. The sliding shuffle 204may have one or more guides 300 configured to travel in a guide slot302. The guide(s) 300 and the guide slot 302 may maintain the slidingshuffle 204 in alignment with the direction of travel as the slidingshuffle 204 translates in response to the pad 108 or actuator 116movement. Although the guide 300 and the guide slot 302 are shown toguide the sliding shuffle 204 as it travels, any suitable device may beused. For example, the sliding shuffle 204 may be partially enclosed inthe slot 218, and the like.

The arm actuation portion 208, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3, may couple tothe first arm 200 and at least one of the actuators 116. As shown inFIG. 3, the arm actuation portion 208 is a portion of the first arm 200that extends from an actuation arm pivot end 306 to an actuation armactuation end 304. The actuation arm pivot end 306 may be coupled to anouter portion of the tool body 220 at the pivot connection 219, similarto those described herein. The actuation arm actuation end 304 may belocated toward the central axis 212 of the tool body 220 and coupled toa motivator 308 of the actuator 116.

The actuator 116 may be configured to move the motivator 308 and therebythe actuation arm actuation end 304. As the motivator 308 moves towardthe closed position, the actuation arm actuation end 304 moveslongitudinally away from the pad 108, thereby rotating the actuation armpivot end 306 about the pivot connection 219. The rotation of theactuation arm pivot end 306 rotates the first arm 200 toward the closedposition as shown by the bottom arm system 110 in FIG. 3. Although thearm actuation portion 208 is shown as an integral part of the first arm200, the arm actuation portion 208 may be a separate arm, so long as itis capable of moving the first arm 200 between the closed and engagedpositions. Further, the actuator 116 may be configured to connect to anysuitable device for actuating the arm system 110, for example, theactuator 116 may connect to and/or actuate the first arm 200, the secondarm 202, the biasing member(s) 118, the sliding shuffle 104 and thelike.

The actuator 116 may be any suitable actuator for moving the first arm200 against the force of the biasing members 118, such as a hydraulicpiston and cylinder, a servo, a pneumatic piston and cylinder, and thelike. There may be one actuator 116 per arm system 110 within the armset 210; there may be one actuator 116 for any number of the arm systems110 within the arm set 210; there may be one actuator 116 for any numberof the arm systems 110 across multiple arm sets 210; or there may be oneactuator 116 per arm set 210. Where there is one actuator 116 per armsystem 110 within an arm set 210, each of the arm systems 110 in the armset 210 may be individually actuated by separate actuators 116. Wherethere is the one actuator 116 for the plurality of arm systems 110within the arm set 210, or across the multiple arm sets 210, or for allthe arm systems 110 within the arm set 210, the one actuator 116 mayactuate the various arm systems 110 from one location on the tool body220. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator(s) 116 actuates the armsystem(s) 110 toward the closed position, and the biasing member(s) 118bias the pads 108 toward an engaged, or logging, position.

In an alternative embodiment, the actuator(s) 116 may be configured tomotivate the pad 108 toward the engaged position while the biasingmembers 118 bias the pad 108 toward the closed position by, for example,reversing the acting direction of the biasing members 118. In thisembodiment, the actuator(s) 116 may be actuated in order to move the pad108, the first arm 200, and the second arm 202 into the closed position.As such, the shock absorbing function of the biasing members 118 mayavoid jamming of the arm system 110 into the wellbore wall 112 from, forexample, excessive hydraulic pressure from the actuator 116.

In another alternative design, the arm systems 110 may not have anactuator 116. In this embodiment, the first and second arms 200 and 202may be biased toward the engaged position by, for example, the biasingmembers 118. The arm system 110 in this embodiment may not require thearm actuation portion 208, as both the first arm 200 and the second arm202 may couple to the tool body 220 and/or the sliding shuffle 204 withthe pivot connection 219.

The biasing members 118, the sliding shuffle 204, and/or the swivelbearing 206 are preferably adapted to move the pad 108 between a closedposition and an engaged position proximate the wellbore wall 112. Thebiasing members 118, or resilient members, are configured to bias thepad 108 relative to the tool body 220. For example, as shown anddescribed herein, the biasing members 118 may be configured to bias thefirst arm 200 and the second arm 202 toward the engaged position. In theengaged position, the first arm 200 and the second arm 202 may move thepad 108 proximate to the wellbore wall 112, as shown by the arm system110 on the top of the tool body 220 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, thebiasing members 118 are leaf springs. However, the biasing members 118may be any device and/or system for biasing the arm systems 110, such asa coiled spring, a hinge spring and the like. Moreover, it should beappreciated that rather than implementing one biasing member 118 per arm200/202, that only one biasing member 118 per arm system 110 may beconfigured to bias the pad 108 proximate the wellbore wall 112. Forexample, the biasing member 118 may couple to the first arm 200, thesecond arm 202, the swivel bearing 206, or the pad 108. The one biasingmember 118 may manipulate the arm system 110 in a similar manner to thetwo biasing members 118, as described herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuator(s) 116 may overcome the biasingforce of the biasing members 118 in order to move the first arm 200 andthe second arm 202, and therefore the pad 108, into the closed position.When the force is released from the actuator(s) 116, the biasing members118 may move the pad 108 back to the engaged position.

Where there are multiple biasing members 118 in the arm system 110, thebiasing members 118 preferably apply a substantially equal force, orspring factor, relative to one another. The substantially equal forcemay ensure that the force applied to the first arm 200 and the secondarm 202 by the biasing member 118 is substantially similar. Thesubstantially equal force applied by the biasing members 118 may allowfor a means of symmetric pad 108 movements and engagement with thewellbore wall 112. The substantially similar biasing force may allow thedistribution of force along the pad 108 to be evenly distributed.Further, it is believed that this dual acting biasing member 118arrangement may act as a shock absorber as the pad 108, the first arm200, and/or the second arm 202 engage one or more upsets 400 (as shownin FIG. 4) in the wellbore wall 112. Further, the biasing members 118for the first arm 200 and the second arm 202 may have different springrates (k) depending on the design of the arm system 110.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the biasing members 118 may be coupled tothe arm pad end 214 of the first arm 200 and the second arm 202. Thebiasing member 118, coupled to the first arm 200, may be coupled to afixed bias member connection 310 on the tool body 220. The biasingmember 118 coupled to the second arm 202 may be fixedly coupled to thesliding shuffle 204 by, for example, two pin connections 312. Thus, asthe sliding shuffle 204 translates, the biasing member 118 coupled tothe second arm 202 may travel with the sliding shuffle 204. While thebiasing member 118 coupled to the second arm 202 is shown to be fixedlycoupled to the sliding shuffle 204 via the two pin connections 312, theconnection between the sliding shuffle 204 and the biasing member 118may be any suitable device to join the biasing member 118 and the toolbody 220 and/or the sliding shuffle 204, such as a bolt, a screw, aweld, and the like.

The first arm 200, the second arm 202, the swivel bearing 206, and/orthe pad 108 may have one or more wear plates 314. The wear plates 314are preferably configured to engage the surface of the wellbore wall 112as the downhole tool 104 travels into and/or out of the wellbore 106.The wear plates 314 may prevent the pad 108, the swivel bearing 206, thefirst arm 200, and/or the second arm 202 from becoming damaged by thenon-uniform wellbore wall 112. The wear plates 314 may be constructed ofany suitable material for engaging the wellbore wall 112, such as steel,tungsten carbide, metal, and the like. Further, the wear plates 314 maybe hard-faced in order to further prevent wear of the wear plates 314.Moreover, it may be desirable to configure the wear plates 314 toprovide a minimum distance or stand-off between the sensors/electrodesin the pad 108 and the wellbore wall 112, for example, to obtain abetter resolution of the formation 107 (as shown in FIG. 1).

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the downhole tool 104of FIG. 2A taken along line A-A. FIG. 4 depicts one of the arm systems110 engaging the wellbore wall 112 that has the upset 400 which causesthe pad 108 to translate at an angle relative to the central axis 212 ofthe downhole tool 104. As the wear plates 314 of the second arm 202and/or the pad 108 engage the wellbore wall 112, the swivel bearing 206between the second arm 202 and the pad 108 allows the second arm 202 torotate relative to the pad 108. This rotation may allow the pad 108 tofollow the contour of the upset 400. The rotation may further cause thesliding shuffle 204 and therefore, the second arm 202 to longitudinallytranslate along the tool body 220 in the slot 218 in order toaccommodate the changed position of the pad 108.

FIG. 5 depicts a bottom view of one embodiment of the swivel bearing206. The swivel bearing 206 is preferably configured to provide aconnection between the pad 108 and the first arm 200 and/or the secondarm 202, and allow the pad 108 to pivot relative to the arm 200/202. Theswivel bearing 206 may further allow the pad 108 to rotate tangentiallyand/or translate longitudinally relative to the arm 200/202, as will bedescribed in more detail below. The swivel bearing 206 may have a fork500 that pivotally couples to a bearing 502, thereby allowing the pad108 to tangentially pivot (or swivel) about the pad central axis 213.The fork 500 may couple to the arm 200/202, while the bearing 502 maycouple to the pad 108, although this arrangement may be reversed so longas the swivel bearing 206 allows for pivoting between the arms 200/202and the pad 108. The fork 500 may pivotally attach to the arm pad end214, or distal end, of the arms 200/202. Although, the swivel bearing206 is shown as the fork 500 pivotally coupled to the bearing 502, theswivel bearing 206 may be any suitable device allowing the pad 108 topivot relative to the arms 200/202, for example, a pin connection, aroller bearing, and the like.

FIG. 6 depicts a bottom view of another embodiment of the swivel bearing206. The swivel bearing 206, as shown, may have an anti-locking device1600 as will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 7A depicts a bottom perspective view of the swivel bearing 206shown in FIG. 5. The fork 500 may couple to the arm 200/202 with a pivotpin 702 and/or bolt through an aperture 700. The swivel bearing 206 mayallow for axial and/or tangential movement of the pad 108 relative tothe arm 200/202. For example, the tangential, or rotational, movement712 of the pad 108 may be provided between the fork 500 and the pad 108via the bearing 502. The axial pivot 704 may be provided between thefork 500 and the arm 200/202 via at least one pivot pin 702/707. Alimiting pin 708 may be coupled to the fork 500 and/or the arm 200/202,and configured to translate in a radial pivot slot 710 to limit theaxial pivot 704 between the arm 200/202 and the swivel bearing 206.

The tangential movement 712 of the pad 108 relative to the arm 200/202may be provided between the fork 500 and the bearing 502 via at leastone rotary pin 714 and a collar 755. The rotary pin 714 and the collar755 may couple the pad 108 to the fork 500, and allow the fork 500 torotate about a central axis 716 of the rotary pin 714, which may or maynot be aligned with the pad central axis 213. The rotary pin 714 may besecured to the fork 500 (e.g., welded, pin connection, press fit, andthe like). The collar 755 may be secured to the pad 108 (not completelyshown) via bolts, screws, press fit, adhesive, welding and the like.There may be one or more rotational limit stops, including one or morerotational limit pins 763, which limit the rotation of the pad 108relative to the fork 500. As may be readily appreciated, the pins 702,707, 714 and/or the collar 755 may be constructed of any materialcapable of withstanding harsh reservoir conditions and frictionalmovement such as, but not limited to, hard steel and bronze.

FIGS. 7B-7D depict different views of an alternate embodiment of theswivel bearing 206 also adapted to provide a connection between the pad108 and the first arm 200 and/or the second arm 202, and allow the pad108 to pivot relative to the arm 200/202. As shown, the swivel bearing206 may be coupled to a portion of the pad 108, and a portion of the arm200/202 at the arm pad end 214. The pivot pin 702 of the swivel bearing206 may allow the axial pivot 704 between the swivel bearing 206 and thearm 200/202. An axial limit stop 754 may be provided to limit the extentof the axial pivot 704 between the pad 108 and the arm 200/202. Theaxial limit stop 754, as shown, may include an axial limit pin 757 thatmay travel in a pivot slot 756 to the predetermined limits of an axialpivot 704, and may be sized accordingly.

Particularly shown in FIG. 7B, the swivel bearing 206 may include therotary pin 714 to allow tangential movement between the swivel bearing206 and the pad 108. The pad 108 may further include a pad aperture 760,or a collar (as described hereinbefore), having a cylindrically shapedrecess to allow the pad 108 to tangentially rotate, or longitudinallytranslate, relative to the swivel bearing 206. One or more rotationallimit stops 762 may be provided to limit the extent of tangentialmovement between the pad 108 and the swivel bearing 206. The rotationallimit stop 762, as shown, may include the rotational limit pin 763 thatmay travel in a rotary slot 764 to the predetermined limits oftangential travel, and may be sized accordingly. The tangential movementof the pad 108 shown in FIG. 7B may be similar in construction andfunction as the tangential movement described in conjunction with FIG.7A. As may be readily appreciated, the rotary pin 714, the pivot pin702, and the axial limit pin 757 may be machined as part of the swivelbearing, or may be connected to the swivel bearing 206 via anyconnection capable of withstanding harsh operations, such as spiralpins, adhesive, bolts, screws, and the like.

Further shown in FIGS. 7C and 7D, the swivel bearing 206 may include oneor more longitudinal limit stops 770 to limit the longitudinaltranslation of the pad 108 relative to the swivel bearing 206. Thelongitudinal limit stop 770, as shown, may include a recessed (orfemale) portion of the rotary pin 714 adapted to engage a protrudedportion of the pad 108 (not shown) such that the pad 108 may travel tothe predetermined limits of longitudinal translation. The longitudinallimit stop 770 may be sized to allow minimal longitudinal translation(e.g. a few millimeters to a few centimeters) or may be sized to allowsubstantial longitudinal translation (e.g. hundreds of centimeters)between a relative position on the pad 108 and the swivel bearing 206.

Although the swivel bearing 206 is described as having the fork 500 withreference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7A, or as alternatively described withreference to FIGS. 7B-7D, the swivel bearing 206 may be of any suitableconfiguration so long as the swivel bearing 206 provides a connectionbetween the pad 108 and the first arm 200 and/or the second arm 202, andallows the pad 108 to pivot relative to the arm 200/202. As describedhereinbefore, the swivel bearing 206 preferably allows the pad 108 torotate tangentially and/or translate longitudinally relative to the arm200/202, but should not be regarded as a limitation.

FIG. 8 depicts a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the armsystem 110 of FIG. 3 having a biasing member connection 504 wherein thebiasing member 118 couples to the arm 200/202 at the arm pad end 214.The biasing member connection 504 is shown as having a translatingconnection 800 between the biasing member 118 and the arm 200/202. Thetranslating connection 800 may be configured in any number of ways toallow the arm system 110 to have another degree of freedom in additionand/or alternative to the sliding shuffle 204. For example, thetranslating connection 800 may include a guide pin 802 attached to thebiasing member 118 and configured to travel within a guide path 804 in alongitudinal direction relative to the arm 200/202. Therefore, as thepad 108, the wear plate 314 and/or the swivel bearing 206 engage theupset 400 in the wellbore 106 (for example, as shown in FIG. 4), thebiasing member 118 may translate relative to the arm 200/202 by allowingthe guide pin 802 to travel within the guide path 804. Although notshown, it should be appreciated that the biasing member connection 504may couple the biasing member 118 and the arm 200/202 at the arm toolend 216.

FIG. 9 depicts a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of thearm system 110 of FIG. 3 having the biasing member connection 504wherein the biasing member 118 couples to the pad 108. The biasingmember connection 504 is shown as having the translating connection 800between the biasing member 118 and the pad 108. The biasing memberconnection 504 may operate in any number of ways, for example, asdescribed hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 8; however, the biasingmember connection 504 of the present embodiment may couple the biasingmember 118 to the pad 108 as an alternative to coupling the biasingmember 118 to the arm 200/202. As shown, the translating connection 800may have the guide pin 802 and the guide path 804 allowing the biasingmember 118 to translate relative to the pad 108 in response to the pad108 and/or the wear plate 314 engaging the upset 400 in the wellbore 106(for example, as shown in FIG. 4).

FIG. 10 depicts a schematic perspective view of an alternativeembodiment of the biasing member connection 504 having a swivelconnection 900 between the biasing member 118 and either the pad 108,the first arm 200, or the second arm 202. The swivel connection 900 mayhave a swivel rod 902 that may couple to a pivoting head 904 of thebiasing member 118. The swivel rod 902 may translate relative to eitherthe pad 108 or the arm 200/202 within a rod track 906. As the swivel rod902 translates within the rod track 906, the biasing member 118 may movein a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis of thedownhole tool 104. The swivel rod 902 may further be configured tolongitudinally translate along the central axis 213 of the pad 108, oralong the arm 200/202.

FIG. 11 depicts a schematic perspective view of another embodiment ofthe biasing member connection 504 having a swivel ball connection 1100between the biasing member 118 and the pad 108. The swivel ballconnection 1100 may have a ball 1102 that may couple to the biasingmember 118. The ball 1102 may be configured to translate relative to thepad 108 within a ball track 1104. The ball 1102 may be configured toallow the biasing member 118 to move with a degree of tangential and/orlongitudinal freedom of movement as the pad 108 and/or the arm 200/202moves relative to the downhole tool 104. Although the swivel ballconnection 1100 is shown as coupling the biasing member 118 to the pad108, it may likewise couple the biasing member 118 to the arm 200/202.It may be desirable to implement one of the biasing member connections504 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in an embodiment where the biasing memberconnection 504 couples the biasing member 118 and the pad 108, and wherethe pad 108 tangentially pivots about the pad central axis 213.

FIG. 12 depicts a schematic view of the operation of one of the armsystems 110 of FIG. 2A. The actuator 116, as shown, actuates the armactuation portion 208. As the actuator 116 applies an actuation forceF_(a) to the actuation arm actuation end 304, the arm actuation portion208 pivots about the actuation arm pivot end 306. The pivoting of thearm actuation portion 208 may cause the first arm 200 to pivot towardthe closed position. The biasing members 118 may apply a biasing forceF_(s) to the first arm 200, the second arm 202, and/or the pad 108 asthe actuator 116 moves the arm system 110 toward the closed position.

The biasing force F_(s) may bias the arm system 110 against theactuation force F_(a). When the actuation force F_(a) is released, thebiasing force F_(s) may move the pad 108 into engagement with wellborewall 112. As such, the pad 108 of the arm system 110 may engage thewellbore wall 112 in response to the biasing spring force F_(s). Whenthe arm system 110 engages the upset 400, as shown in FIG. 12 in adashed line, the sliding shuffle 204 coupled to the second arm 202 maytranslate along the tool body 220. As the sliding shuffle 204translates, the swivel bearings 206 may allow the pad 108 to rotate atan axial tilt and maintain engagement with the wellbore wall 112. Therotating swivel bearings 206 may allow the second arm 202 and the firstarm 200 to move as the second arm 202 moves with the sliding shuffle204. As the arm system 110 adjusts with respect to undulations of thewellbore wall 112, the biasing members 118 may exert a substantiallyequal force on, for example, the first arm 200 and the second arm 202 ofthe arm system 110, or directly on the pad 108, thereby exerting asubstantially even force distributed across the pad 108. Thesubstantially even force distributed across the pad 108 may assist thearm system 110 in maintaining the pad 108 in contact with the wellborewall 112, thereby permitting higher resolution measurements of thesubterranean formation 107. Moreover, the actuator 116 may be used toforce the pad 108 into further engagement with the wellbore wall 112thereby maintaining the pad 108 in the engaged position with sufficientcontact pressure between the pad 108 and the wellbore wall 112.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the downhole tool104 of FIG. 3. The arm systems 110, as shown, may have a pad slidinglinkage 1300 in addition, or as an alternative to, the sliding shuffle204. The pad sliding linkage 1300 may have a pad pin 1304 configured tolongitudinally travel along the pad central axis 213 within a pad guideslot 1302. As the pad pin 1304 travels within the pad guide slot 1302,the distance between the swivel bearings 206 and the pad 108 and/or thearms 200/202 may lengthen and shorten. The pad sliding linkage 1300 maybe used on one or both ends of the pad 108. Although, the pad slidinglinkage 1300 is shown as the pad pin 1304 in the pad guide slot 1302,any suitable device for allowing the pad 108 and/or the arms 200/202 tolongitudinally translate relative to the swivel bearing 206 may be used,for example, a recess, or the longitudinal limit stop 770, (as shown inFIG. 7D) on the rotary pin 714 may engage a translation limit stop, andthe like.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic end view of an embodiment of the downhole tool104 of FIG. 3. As described in detail hereinbefore, each of the pads 108are preferably configured to tangentially tilt relative to the padcentral axis 213 (as shown in FIG. 2A) and axially tilt at an anglerelative a downhole tool central axis 212 (as shown in FIG. 2A) in anindependent manner so as to permit each of the pads 108 to engage thewellbore wall 112 even in locations where the wellbore wall 112 is notuniformly round or where the downhole tool 104 is eccentrically locatedin the wellbore 106. The swivel bearings 206 may allow the pads 108 totangentially tilt independent of the other pads 108, or the arms200/202, in order to maintain engagement with the wellbore wall 112, asshown by the pads 108A-C and 108 E-G, while pads 108D and 108H remainsubstantially straight due to the disposition of the arms 200/202relative to the geometry of the wellbore wall 112.

FIG. 15 depicts a kinematic diagram of an embodiment of the downholetool 104 illustrating the arm system 110 having the anti-locking device1600. As the downhole tool 104 with the double arm configuration of thearm system 110 travels within the wellbore 106, the arm system 110 maybecome jammed, or locked, if the downhole tool 104 runs into a sharpupset 1602 or restriction. The sharp upset 1602 may be caused by anaturally occurring upset in the wellbore wall 112, and/or byrestrictions placed in the wellbore 106, such as a casing entry, tubingentry, sidetrack entry, and the like.

When the leading arm, in this case the second arm 202, encounters thesharp upset 1602, the arm system 110 of the downhole tool 104 eithercloses itself, or the arm system 110 may enter a blockage situationwherein a static force equilibrium is created throughout the arm system110. The blockage situation may lock the arm system 110 therebypreventing the downhole tool 104 from passing the sharp upset 1602. Theanti-locking device 1600 may be configured to release the arm system 110when the blockage situation occurs by modifying the force equilibrium inthe arm system 110, and by moving at least one of the arms 200/202relative to the tool body 220. As shown in FIG. 15, the anti-lockingdevice 1600 is coupled to the first arm 200. However, the anti-lockingdevice 1600 may be coupled to the second arm 202, the pad 108, and/orboth the second arm 202 and the first arm 200.

The anti-locking device 1600 preferably includes an anti-lock bias 1604.The anti-lock bias 1604 of the anti-locking device 1600 may beconfigured to create a biasing force F_(b) on a portion of the armsystem 110, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Therefore,when outside forces are not applied by the wellbore wall 112 (or thesharp upset 1602), the biasing force F_(b) from the antilock bias 1604maintains the arm system 110 in an engaged position.

FIGS. 16A and 16B depict schematic side views of an embodiment of thearm system 110 having the anti-locking device 1600 of FIG. 15 shown inan engaged position and a biased position, respectively. In the engagedposition, the downhole tool 104 operates as normal, logging the wellbore106 as described herein. In the biased position, the biasing force F_(b)has been overcome due to, for example, entering a blockage situation,and a portion of the arm system 110 is linearly shifted toward the toolbody 220. Such linear shift of the arm system 110, whether a fewmillimeters, a few tens of millimeters, a few centimeters, or a few tensof centimeters, preferably allows the downhole tool 104 to move past theblockage situation, and the anti-locking device 1600 may preferablyreturn to the engaged position.

The anti-locking device 1600 is shown to include the anti-lock bias1604, and an anti-lock slot 1806 in which the pivot pin 702 may beconfigured to travel to the limits of a predetermined linear shift. Theanti-lock bias 1604, or a deflection member, is shown as a leaf springfixed to the arm 200/202 at a fixed end 1800 and the pivot pin 702 at afree end 1804. As described previously, with reference to FIGS. 7A-7D,the pivot pin 702 of the swivel bearing 206 is preferably configured toallow an axial pivot between the swivel bearing 206 and the arm 200/202.As the force increases in the arm system 110 to overcome the biasingforce F_(b), the pivot pin 702 may travel in the anti-lock slot 1806from the engaged position shown in FIG. 16A to the biased position shownin FIG. 16B. Although the anti-lock bias 1604 is shown as a leaf spring,it may be any suitable biasing member, such as a coiled spring and thelike. Although not shown, it should be appreciated that the anti-lockbias 1604 and the anti-lock slot 1806 may be coupled to the pad 108, theswivel bearing 206, and/or the tool body 220. Likewise, the pivot pin702 may be coupled to the arm 200/202 and/or the tool body 220.

FIGS. 17A and 17B depict schematic views of the downhole tool 104 ofFIG. 15 having the anti-locking device 1600 in the engaged position andthe biased position, respectively, deployed in a wellbore 106. FIG. 17Ashows the second arm 202 of one of the arm systems 110 engaging thesharp upset 1602 prior to the biasing force F_(b) of the anti-lockingdevice 1600 being overcome. The force may increase in the arm system 110until the biasing force F_(b) is overcome, thereby moving theanti-locking device 1600 to the biased position, as shown in FIG. 17B.The arm system 110 of the downhole tool 104 may then be allowed to movetoward the closed position in order to allow the downhole tool 104 topass the sharp upset 1602.

FIG. 18 depicts a schematic illustration representing the anti-lockingdevice 1600 (as shown in FIG. 15) overcoming the biasing force F_(b) inthe arm system 110 when the sharp upset 1602 is encountered, similar tothe position of the downhole tool 104 in FIGS. 4 and 17B. When the sharpupset 1602 is encountered at point D, the arm system 110 may have aconfiguration similar to the triangle ABC. The triangle ABC may berepresentative of the arm system 110, where A may be representative ofthe pivot pin 702, and B and C may be representative of the pivotconnection 219. As the blockage situation (or the sharp upset 1602) isencountered, the biasing force F_(b) created by the anti-lock bias 1604is overcome by the continued pulling/pushing of the downhole tool 104within the wellbore 106 against the sharp upset 1602. When the biasingforce F_(b) is overcome, the anti-locking device 1600 allows arestricted portion of the arm system 110 to linearly shift its shape toa biased position similar to the triangle A′BC and adjust to point D′.The restricted portion may be defined in relation to this Figure asbetween A and C, or A′ and C. The movement from A to A′ may cause areduction in the angle β created between the restricted portion [A-C]and the tool body [B-C] to a new angle β′. This small reconfiguration ofthe shape of the arm system 110 may release the force in the arm system110, thereby allowing the arm system 110 to move toward the closedposition. The force reduction created by the anti-locking device 1600may reduce the overall force by, for example, around 65%.

FIG. 19 depicts a schematic bottom perspective view of a portion of thearm system 110 having the anti-locking device 1600 of FIGS. 6 and 15.The anti-locking device 1600, as shown, includes the anti-lock bias1604, which engages the pivot pin 702. The pivot pin 702 may couple tothe fork 500. As shown, the pivot pin 702 extends through the slot 1806of the arm 200/202 to engage the anti-lock bias 1604. The anti-lockingdevice 1600 may include two anti-lock biases 1604, as shown, or mayinclude any number of anti-lock biases 1604 so as to create the biasingforce F_(b) on a portion of the arm system 110. Moreover, the pivot pin702 may extend across the fork 500, or any other suitable configurationof the swivel bearing 206.

FIGS. 20-23 show schematic views of an embodiment of the downhole tool104 having multiple arm sets, for example a first arm set 2100 and asecond arm set 2102, or interleaved arm sets 2100 and 2102. Each of thearm sets 2100/2102 may have multiple arm systems 110 as describedherein. The arm sets 2100 and 2102 are shown as overlapping one anotherin an interleaved architecture wherein the first arm set 2100 ends afterthe second arm set 2102 begins. Where the arm sets 2100/2102 are spacedsequentially along the tool body 220 and do not overlap one another,there may be a significant distance between the end of the first arm set2100 and the beginning of the second arm set 2102. In some cases, thespace between the sequential arms sets 2100/2102 may reduce the qualityof the data collected by the pads 108 due to an error caused byrotating, or twisting, the tool in the wellbore 106 as the downhole tool104 is being conveyed. For example, where multiple arm sets 2100/2102are used to image a formation surrounding the wellbore 106, theconfiguration of the multiple arms 2100/2102 may be displaced to providea maximum coverage of the circumferential surface of the wellboreenvironment. A twisting of the downhole tool 104 in the wellbore 106 mayoverlap the range of measurements, and thereby reduce the coverage.

The interleaved architecture of FIGS. 20-23 allows the first arm set2100 to partially overlap the second arm set 2102. Therefore, theinterleaved architecture allows the pads 108 of the first arm set 2100and the second arm set 2102 to be located closer together than thesequential arm sets. The arm systems 110 used for the interleavedarchitecture may be any of the arm systems 110 described herein.

FIG. 20 shows the interleaved arm sets 2100/2102 having the second arms202 overlapping one another at an overlap tool body portion 2104. Theoverlap tool body portion 2104 may be configured to secure theoverlapped arms, as shown on the second arms 202, to the tool body 220.The overlap tool body portion 2104 may have any structures, apparatusand/or devices suitable for coupling the arms 200/202 to the tool body220. The overlap tool body portion 2104 may have the slots 218 to allowthe sliding shuffle 204 coupled to the second arms 202 to translate aspreviously described herein. Therefore, each of the arm systems 110 maybe configured to have their respective arm tool end 216 (as shown inFIG. 2A) coupled to the sliding shuffle 204 located in the overlap toolbody portion 2104 of the downhole tool 104.

This configuration may allow a plurality of leading arms 2106 of thedownhole tool 104 to be pivotally fixed to the tool body 220 while aplurality of interleaved arms 2108 translate relative to the tool body220 in the overlap tool body portion 2104. The leading arm(s) 2106 maybe the first arms to engage the wellbore upsets as the downhole tool 104travels within the wellbore 106. For example, the leading arm(s) 2106 ofthe first arm set 2100 may be the first of the arms 200/202 to engagethe wellbore wall 112 when the downhole tool 104 is travelling andlogging up the wellbore 106, while the leading arm(s) 2106 of the secondarm set 2102 may be the first of the arms 200/202 to engage the wellborewall 112 when the downhole tool 104 is travelling and logging down thewellbore 106. The overlap tool body portion 2104 may further secure thearm systems 110 to the tool body 220 with any of the configurationsdescribed herein. For example the first arm set 2100 may have the pivotconnection 219 at the overlap tool body portion 2104 while the secondarm set 2102 has the translating connection, for example with a slidingshuffle 204, at the overlap tool body portion 2104. However each of thearms systems 110 within the arm sets 2100 and 2102 may have varyingconnection types at the overlap tool body portion 2104. Although, theleading arms 2106 are shown as being pivotally coupled to the tool body220 while the interleaved arms 2108 are shown coupled to the slidingshuffle 204 any combination of arm connections may be used, such as theleading arms 2106 and the interleaved arms 2108 coupling to the slidingshuffle 204, the leading arms 2106 coupled to the sliding shuffle 204while the interleaved arms 2108 have a pivot connection and anycombination thereof.

As shown in FIG. 21, each of the interleaved arm sets 2100 and 2102 mayhave four arm systems 110 positioned radially about the tool body 220.As shown, the interleaved arm sets 2100 and 2102 may be offset atapproximately 45° to one another. In the configuration shown, there maybe four pads 108 on the first arm set 2100 spaced 90° from one another,and another four pads 108 on the second arm set 2102 also spaced 90°from one another, and 45° from the four pads 108 on the first arm set2100. This configuration may allow for logging a larger circumferentialportion of the wellbore 106. Although, the downhole tool 104 isdescribed as having eight pads 108 spaced between the interleaved armsets 2100 and 2102, there may be any number of arm systems 110 on eachof the arm sets 2100 and 2102 having varying degrees of spacing betweenthe arm systems 110 and/or the arm sets 2100 and 2102.

FIG. 22 depicts a cross-sectional view of the downhole tool 104 of FIG.21 taken along line B-B. The downhole tool 104 may have similar pads108, as shown in FIG. 21, or may have a plurality of varying pads2180A-D, as shown in FIG. 22. For example, a first pad 2180A may beconfigured to measure fluid parameters in the wellbore 106 while asecond pad 2108B may be configured to measure formation parameters.

Any combination of wellbore 106 and/or formation parameters may bemeasured by the pads 2180A-D. The combined signal sensed by the firstarm set 2100 and the second arm set 2102 may be combined to providevirtually complete 360° coverage, or logging, of the wellboreenvironment. Since this apparatus is operable both upon ingress andegress of the wellbore 106, confirmatory signals, or readings, may becollected and compared to more accurately measure the wellbore 106characteristics sought. Therefore, at least one measured parameter takenwhile logging in a first direction may be compared to at least onemeasured parameter taken while logging a second direction. Byinterleaving the first arm set 2100 and the second arm set 2102 in theoverlap tool body portion 2104, or the mid-body portion, the mid-pointof each of the arm sets 2100, 2102 may be moved closer along thelongitudinal axis of the tool body 220. This configuration is designedto enable the pad 108 coverage of the wellbore wall 112 to permit higherresolution signal generation for logging the wellbore, and to decreasethe probability of overlapping signals from rotation of the entire toolbody as the downhole tool 104 is transported through the wellbore 106.

FIG. 22 shows the arm systems 110 of the arm sets 2100 and 2102 having asimilar structure as the arm systems 110, described above. The armsystems 110 may have the sliding shuffle 204 configured to translate inthe slot 218. The first arms 200, as shown, are the leading arms 2106 ofthe arm sets 2100 and 2102. The first arms 200 may be coupled to thetool body with the pivot connections 219. The actuators 116 and thebiasing members 118 may operate in a similar manner, as described above,in order to move the pads 108/2180 between the engaged position and theclosed position.

FIG. 23 depicts a perspective view of a portion of the downhole tool ofFIG. 22. The overlap tool body portion 2104 may have a plurality of ribs2400 around the circumference of the tool body 220. The ribs 2400 mayform at least a portion of the slots 218 for the sliding shuffles 204 totranslate within.

The arm systems 110 of each of the arm sets 2100 and 2102 may have theanti-lock device 1600 (as shown in FIG. 15) in order to prevent thedownhole tool 104 from becoming stuck in the wellbore 106.

The pads, as described herein, are preferably positionable against thewellbore wall for taking measurements thereof. The pads may beconventional sensors or sensing systems operable for downhole use.Electrodes or other sensors may be used in the pads for taking desireddownhole measurements. Sensors may also be positioned at other locationsabout the wellbore and/or tool to take additional downhole measurements.

As described above there may be any suitable number of arms systems 110in each of the arm sets 210, 2100 and/or 2102 on the downhole tool 104.The number of arm systems 110 may range from 1 arm system 110 up to 100,or more, arm systems 110 per arm set 210, 2100 and/or 2102. The anglebetween the arm systems 110 in each arm set 210, 2100 and/or 2102 mayvary depending on the number of arm systems 110 within each arm set 210,2100 and/or 2102. Further, the angle between the arm sets 210, 2100and/or 2102 may vary depending on the number of arm sets 210 on thedownhole tool 104 and the number of arm systems 110 within each of thearm sets 210, 2100 and/or 2102. Table 1 depicts an example of severaldifferent arrangements of the arm systems 110 and arm sets 210, 2100and/or 2102 on the downhole tool 104. The first column depicts thenumber of arm systems 110 in each of the arm sets 210, 2100 and/or 2102of the downhole tool 104. The second column depicts the angle that maybe between the arm systems 110 within each of arm sets 210, 2100 and/or2102. The third column depicts the number of arm sets 210, 2100 and/or2102 on the downhole tool 104. The fourth column depicts the azimuthangle that may be between the arm systems 110 of the different arm sets210, 2100 and/or 2102 of the downhole tool.

TABLE 1 No. of arm Angle between systems per the arm systems No. of armAngle between the arm set within the arm sets sets arm sets 1 360° 2180° 3 120° 4 90° 2 180° 2 90° 3 60° 4 45° 3 120° 2 60° 3 40° 4 90° 245° 3 30° 6 60° 2 30°

The angles between the arm systems 110 in each of the arm sets 210, 2100and/or 2102 may be determined using the following equation:Arm System Angle=360°/(number of arm systems in arm set)  (Equation 1)

The azimuth angle between the arm systems 110 of different arm sets 210,2100 and/or 2102 may be determined using the following equation:Azimuth Angle=(Arm system angle)/(Number of Arm Sets)  (Equation 2)

FIG. 24 depicts a flowchart 1500 depicting a method of logging awellbore. The flowchart begins by deploying 1502 the downhole toolhaving at least one the arm system and an optional anti-lock devicethereon into a wellbore. The downhole tool may be any downhole tooldescribed herein. The flowchart continues by maintaining 1504 a pad ofthe arm system in an engaged position. The flowchart continues byself-adjusting 1506 the pad between a closed position proximate the toolbody and an engaged position proximate the wellbore wall as the padmoves through the wellbore, and measuring 1508 at least one downholeparameter with the pad. Optionally, the flowchart continues by binding1510 a portion of the arm system against an upset in the wellbore andovercoming 1512 an anti-lock biasing force. The flowchart continues byunbinding 1514 the arm system by rotating the anti-lock device toward anengaged position.

It should be understood that the components of the invention set forthabove, and claimed below, can be provided as unitary elements, ormultiple elements which are connected and/or otherwise adapted tofunction together, unless specifically limited to a unitary structure inthe claims.

While the embodiments are described with reference to variousimplementations and exploitations, it will be understood that theseembodiments are illustrative and that the scope of the inventive subjectmatter is not limited to them. Many variations, modifications, additionsand improvements are possible. For example, the techniques used hereinmay be applied to log multiple wellbores.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations orstructures described herein as a single instance. In general, structuresand functionality presented as separate components in the exemplaryconfigurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component.Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single componentmay be implemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope ofthe inventive subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. An arm system for logging a wellbore having awellbore wall and at least one subterranean formation thereabout, thearm system positionable on a downhole tool deployable into the wellbore,the arm system comprising: a pad for measuring at least one downholeparameter; a first arm having an arm first end connected to a tool bodyof the downhole tool and an arm second end connected to a first end ofthe pad; a second arm having an arm first end connected to the tool bodyof the downhole tool and an arm second end connected to a second end ofthe pad; a sliding shuffle adapted to allow a portion of the arm systemto translate relative to a longitudinal axis of the tool body; a firstbiasing member wherein the first biasing member and the sliding shuffleare for moving the pad between a closed position proximate the tool bodyand an engaged position proximate the wellbore wall; and a first swivelbearing and a second swivel bearing, each of the first swivel bearingand the second swivel bearing for pivotally connecting one of the firstarm and the second arm to the pad, wherein the first swivel bearing andthe second swivel bearing allows the pad to pivot tangentially relativeto the first arm and the second arm and independent of the radialmovement of the pad relevant to the wellbore wall.
 2. An arm system forlogging a wellbore having a wellbore wall and at least one subterraneanformation thereabout, the arm system positionable on a downhole tooldeployable into the wellbore, the arm system comprising: a pad formeasuring at least one downhole parameter; a first arm having an armfirst end connected to a tool body of the downhole tool and an armsecond end connected to a first end of the pad; a second arm having anarm first end connected to the tool body of the downhole tool and an armsecond end connected to a second end of the pad; a sliding shuffleadapted to allow a portion of the arm system to translate relative to alongitudinal axis of the tool body; and a first biasing member whereinthe first biasing member and the sliding shuffle are for moving the padbetween a closed position proximate the tool body and an engagedposition proximate the wellbore wall, wherein a distal end of the firstbiasing member is attached to the pad and comprises a swivel connectionconnected to a sliding track at an anterior portion of the pad.
 3. Anarm system for logging a wellbore having a wellbore wall and at leastone subterranean formation thereabout, the arm system positionable on adownhole tool deployable into the wellbore, the arm system comprising: apad for measuring at least one downhole parameter; a first arm having anarm first end connected to a tool body of the downhole tool and an armsecond end connected to a first end of the pad; a second arm having anarm first end connected to the tool body of the downhole tool and an armsecond end connected to a second end of the pad; a sliding shuffleadapted to allow a portion of the arm system to translate relative to alongitudinal axis of the tool body, wherein the sliding shuffle isattached to the pad, and adapted to allow the pad to translate along thelongitudinal axis of the tool body, and wherein the sliding shufflecomprises a sliding swivel bearing coupled to the pad and pivotallyfixed on the arm second end of the first arm, and further comprises anadditional swivel bearing pivotally fixed on the arm second end of thesecond arm, wherein the sliding swivel bearing and the additional swivelbearing allows the pad to pivot tangentially relative to the first armand the second arm and independent of the radial movement of the padrelevant to the wellbore wall; and a first biasing member wherein thefirst biasing member and the sliding shuffle are for moving the padbetween a closed position proximate the tool body and an engagedposition proximate the wellbore wall.
 4. A method for logging a wellborehaving a wellbore wall and at least one subterranean formationthereabout, the method comprising: deploying a downhole tool into thewellbore, the downhole tool having at least one arm system thereon, eachof the at least one arm systems comprising: a pad for measuring at leastone downhole parameter; a first arm having an arm first end connected toa tool body of the downhole tool and an arm second end connected to afirst end of the pad; a second arm having an arm first end connected tothe tool body of the downhole tool and an arm second end connected to asecond end of the pad; a sliding shuffle adapted to allow a portion ofthe arm system to translate relative to a longitudinal axis of the toolbody; and a first biasing member wherein the first biasing member andthe sliding shuffle are for moving the pad between a closed positionproximate the tool body and an engaged position proximate the wellborewall; maintaining the pad in the engaged position by self-adjusting thepad between a closed position proximate the tool body and an engagedposition proximate the wellbore wall as the pad moves through thewellbore, wherein self-adjusting the pad further comprises pivoting thepad tangentially about a longitudinal axis of the pad relative to thewellbore wall, wherein pivoting the pad tangentially further comprisesrotating the pad about a rotary pin of two swivel bearings, each of theswivel bearings coupling a first end and second end of the pad to thefirst arm and second arm; and measuring at least one downhole parameterwith the pad.